Plans to implement low emission zones in Dundee have been stalled by the Covid-19 outbreak.
The Scottish Government’s low emission zone leadership group, which includes representatives from the city council, has said proposals to put zones in place for Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen later this year will be paused.
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “The unprecedented impact of the Covid-19 outbreak has resulted in necessary changes to priorities across government and across our local authority partners.
“Similar to other initiatives across public sector, we have come to the view that introducing low emission zones across our four biggest cities by the end of 2020 is no longer practicable.
“Given the recent uptake in active travel and air quality levels we are going to take the opportunity to review how low emission zones can be designed and how our cities might witness a green recovery transformation in tandem with the Covid-19 recovery plans.
“We must be bold in our actions to reset the system to meet our climate change ambitions, reduce inequalities, improve our health and wellbeing and deliver sustainable economic growth.”
Dundee West End Liberal Democrat councillor Fraser Macpherson said the significant air quality improvements which have resulted from the pandemic lockdown and a sharp reduction in vehicle use must not be lost when normality resumes.
Mr Macpherson said, “Air quality levels across Dundee with far less vehicle usage currently taking place have significantly improved.
“All air quality monitoring sites show particulates and nitrogen dioxide levels are down to low. Mean levels of nitrogen dioxide have reduced by some 68% in recent weeks on Lochee Road and nitric oxide by 55%.
“Of course vehicle traffic will increase as we hopefully get through the current Covid-19 health emergency and business, work and leisure traffic increases again, but I am adamant that the improvements in air quality must be maintained, particularly at the long-established areas of air quality concern in the city, including parts of the West End.”
